Page 44 of His Flawed Ride
Hopper’s laughter is laced with mania. “Let me?” He snorts.
Leo steps between the two, and says, “Get the fuck outta here and take her with you. But you’ve got my word that you ever ride back into my town, you’re all dead.”
Lily doesn’t argue, she sticks to Hopper’s side as they make to leave.
“What the fuck was that?” Slade roars.
“That was me saving us from digging nineteen graves today,” Leo quips.
Myles mutters, “Us? He means me and you, right?” to Mase.
Wetness drips down from my brow and I wipe away the blood as I try to hide my smile at Myles’s truth.
The Hades Hogs leave and Slade inches closer as if he, on foot, can stop them.
“Cas! Talk to your boy! Whatever she’s done, we can’t let him take her!”
“Sorry, brother. It’s Leo’s decision.”
Leo lights a cigarette and tells Slade, “Take Zach, Myles, and Shane and do what you gotta do to get her back, but she’s not allowed home. Though wait until they’re back on their territory.”
Slade’s surprise knocks him back. “You…”
“I changed my mind. I don’t want a bloodbath here in town, but on their patch… I don’t give a shit. I also don’t want my sister lookin’ any different at me cause I didn’t let you go get her.” He then turns to me. “And when you get back, you’ll answer for this shit show you’ve created.”
I nod. With Leo’s decision made, it’s time to leave. I’m not looking forward to cleaning my cuts and bruises. The sting of antibacterial wash is a bitch, and I don’t mind admitting I revert to being a stubborn child when I get into fights. It was worth it though. I wouldn’t have heard the last of it if I had lost.
The club rides up to the clubhouse gates and as I haul my ass off of my ride, the brothers’ attention is on Nora and a woman I’m pretty sure has never been around here before.
Grim is the first to join them and Leo hangs back but still close enough to hear what’s going on.
“I know you know where he is, Nora.”
“I can tell you with my hand on my heart that I do not know where he is. I don’t know how many times I need to tell you. I can’t help you.”
“You were with him for like, forever, then you start hanging around with these… people, and then he disappears. I’m putting two and two together, I just need to hear that I’ve calculated four. I’m not going to stop until I find him.”
Nora, usually meek, steps closer to her and tells her, “Harry hasn’t been in my life for a long time. I’m sure that wherever he is he’s doing exactly what he wants to be doing. If he isn’t getting in contact with you, or your parents, it’s because he’s a shitty person and always has been.”
“Break this up and get her out of here,” Leo instructs.
Before I can make my way over, Harry’s sister turns her back and heads for her car. Grim holds Nora and when I look back to Leo, he’s already walking away.
Taking my ass into the bar, I see to my injuries and pack a bag. If there’s one thing I can do, it’s to help Lily and make sure she gets somewhere safe.
Chapter Seventeen
Lily
Ihave been driving for hours, but it feels like days. Hopper is keen to get home and only stops when the club needs to refill their tanks or when they force Hopper to stop for a break. He rides out of formation, staying close beside my car, not wanting to let me out of his sight. We still have miles to go before we reach home, but I already know my chances of achieving another escape are next to none. Even if I could escape, I could never return to Willow’s Peak. This is my karma. I’ve bulldozed my way through life, getting away with fuck up after fuck up. I’ve ran out of luck and now I have to deal with the consequences. Maybe I deserve to live this life.
Hopper signals to pull over and I park where he points off to on the side of the road.
“Set up for the night, we leave at first light,” he orders, and I sit in my car while the brothers set up their tents.
I should call Harper but at this point, I’m certain she wouldn’t pick up. The door to the passenger side opens and Hopper slides into the seat.
I know he’s going to shut the door, but I still flinch when it slams closed. I curl into my seat, wishing I could sink into it fully and disappear.
